U.S. patent application number 10/867186 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-11 for computer automated electronic small change harvesting method.
Invention is credited to Pohl, Bernhardt.
Application Number | 20040222285 10/867186 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25560135 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040222285 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pohl, Bernhardt |
November 11, 2004 |
Computer automated electronic small change harvesting method
Abstract
This invention provides for method 10 of automatically
harvesting a monetary donation during a financial transaction. The
method 10 includes the steps of electronically registering 12
tender received from a transacting party which tender is offered as
payment for goods and/or services; automatically and electronically
determining 14 whether or not the tendered amount exceeds the total
amount 16 required for the purchase of the goods and/or services;
automatically and without approval from the transacting party
increasing 20 the total amount of the transaction with a
predetermined amount if the tendered amount exceeds the total
amount 16 required so that the predetermined amount is equal or
less than the difference between the total amount and the tendered
amount; and automatically and electronically allocating 22 the
predetermined amount to a collecting party 24 if the transacting
party does not disagree to the automatic increase of the total
amount with the predetermined amount. The invention further
provides for an accompanying system.
Inventors: |
Pohl, Bernhardt; (Pretoria,
ZA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARMASSON & BUCHACA & LEACH LLP
1545 HOTEL CIRCLE SOUTH
SUITE 150
SAN DIEGO
CA
92108-3412
US
|
Family ID: |
25560135 |
Appl. No.: |
10/867186 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10867186 |
Jun 14, 2004 |
|
|
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PCT/ZA01/00203 |
Dec 14, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/379 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/04 20130101;
G07G 1/00 20130101; G06Q 20/24 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; G06Q
20/20 20130101; G07G 1/14 20130101; G06Q 30/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/379 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
1. A method of automatically harvesting a monetary donation during
a financial transaction which method includes the following steps,
in any order electronically registering tender received from a
transacting party which tender is offered as payment for goods
and/or services; automatically and electronically determining
whether or not the tendered amount exceeds the total amount
required for the purchase of the goods and/or services;
automatically and without approval from the transacting party
increasing the total amount of the transaction with a predetermined
amount if the tendered amount exceeds the total amount required so
that the predetermined amount is equal or less than the difference
between the total amount and the tendered amount; and automatically
and electronically allocating the predetermined amount to a
collecting party if the transacting party does not disagree to the
automatic increase of the total amount with the predetermined
amount.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes, after the step
of increasing the total amount, the step of displaying the
increased total amount and the predetermined amount to the
transacting party.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes, after the step
of determining whether or not the tendered amount exceeds the total
amount, the step of automatically calculating the predetermined
amount.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount
is calculated so that the addition thereof to the total amount
results in a rounded figure.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount
is calculated as a percentage of the total amount of the
transaction.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount
is calculated to be below a certain limit.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes the step of
assigning a unique identifier to the transacting party upon
allocation of the predetermined amount to the collecting party
which unique identifier is able to uniquely identify the
transacting party for the purposes of a game of chance.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of assigning a
unique identifier to a transacting party forms part of a reward
scheme wherein a transacting party has a chance to win a prize
merely by donating small change during a transaction.
9. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes the step of
providing the transacting party with a printout of the
transaction.
10. A system for automatically harvesting a monetary donation
during a financial transaction which system includes at least one
conventional electronic transaction register adapted to
electronically register tender received from a transacting party
which tender is offered as payment for goods and/or services, to
automatically and electronically determine whether or not the
tendered amount exceeds the total amount required for the purchase
of the goods and/or services, and to automatically and without
approval from the transacting party increase the total amount of
the transaction with a predetermined amount if the tendered amount
exceeds the total amount required so that the predetermined amount
is equal or less than the difference between the total amount and
the tendered amount; and a central processor arranged in electronic
communication with the at least one register which processor is
configured to automatically and electronically allocate the
predetermined amount by means of a conventional electronic network
to a collecting party if the transacting party does not disagree to
the automatic increase of the total amount with the predetermined
amount.
11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the register is
adapted to display the increased total amount and the predetermined
amount to the transacting party.
12. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the register is
adapted to automatically calculate the predetermined amount.
13. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the register
calculates the predetermined amount so that the addition thereof to
the total amount results in a rounded figure.
14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the register
calculates the predetermined amount as a percentage of the total
amount of the transaction.
15. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the register
calculates the predetermined amount to be below a certain
limit.
16. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the register is
adapted to assign a unique identifier to the transacting party upon
allocation of the predetermined amount to the collecting party
which unique identifier is able to uniquely identify the
transacting party for the purposes of a game of chance.
17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the register assigns
the unique identifier to a transacting party so as to form part of
a reward scheme wherein a transacting party has a chance to win a
prize merely by donating small change during a transaction.
18. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the register is
adapted to provide the transacting party with a printout of the
transaction.
19. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the central processor
includes a conventional financial computer server.
Description
PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending International
Application No. PCT/ZA01/00203, with an international filing date
of Dec. 14, 2001.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a method and system for
automatically harvesting a monetary donation during a financial
transaction, and a method and system for automatically harvesting a
monetary donation after the conclusion of an electronic
transaction.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0003] Due to the large number of financial transactions occurring
daily, small change is frequently generated. This generated small
change is generally not productively applied due to its fragmented
state and therefore perceived redundancy. The current invention
seeks to automatically harvest this generated change through
exploiting this perceived redundancy.
[0004] The Inventor is aware of existing systems for gathering
donations at cash registers. For example, in WO 0021009, a " . . .
donation collection and processing system" is disclosed which uses
a separate " . . . fundraising device electronically linked to and
in proximity with an electronic cash register." The system
disclosed in WO 0021009 further requires a customer to choose from
a list of charities after a purchase and accordingly make a
donation to the selected charity. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No.
6,112,191, a subscriber is able to accumulate credits in a separate
surplus account from where the credits are apportioned to charities
nominated by the subscriber. These surplus accounts are typically
identified by means of a card having an electromagnetic strip
thereon. Also, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,919, a system is disclosed
which enables a customer to donate money to a charity when making
purchases with a credit card which is associated with a specific
charity.
[0005] The Inventor has identified several shortcomings in the
known systems. A major problem of these systems is that their
operation requires a customer to perform a conscious decision to
make a donation following a transaction which results in less
efficient donation harvesting than the system proposed under this
invention. Furthermore, several of the known systems are dependant
on additional hardware which adds to complexity and operation
costs. The proposed invention seeks to improve upon the above
inventions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of automatically harvesting a monetary donation
during a financial transaction which method includes the following
steps, in any order
[0007] electronically registering tender received from a
transacting party which tender is offered as payment for goods
and/or services;
[0008] automatically and electronically determining whether or not
the tendered amount exceeds the total amount required for the
purchase of the goods and/or services;
[0009] automatically and without approval from the transacting
party increasing the total amount of the transaction with a
predetermined amount if the tendered amount exceeds the total
amount required so that the predetermined amount is equal or less
than the difference between the total amount and the tendered
amount; and
[0010] automatically and electronically allocating the
predetermined amount to a collecting party if the transacting party
does not disagree to the automatic increase of the total amount
with the predetermined amount.
[0011] It is to be appreciated that the predetermined amount does
not exceed the difference between the total amount and the tendered
amount so that the transacting party is not required to tender
additional cash than that already tendered. This facilitates the
exploitation of the perceived redundancy of change resulting from a
cash transaction.
[0012] The method may include, after the step of increasing the
total amount, the step of displaying the increased total amount and
the predetermined amount to the transacting party.
[0013] The method may include, after the step of determining
whether or not the tendered amount exceeds the total amount, the
step of automatically calculating the predetermined amount. The
predetermined amount may be calculated so that the addition thereof
to the total amount results in a rounded figure, e.g. the total is
rounded up to the nearest dollar, i.e. where the total is $43.45,
the predetermined amount will be $0.55 so that the increased total
is $44.00. The predetermined amount may be calculated so that the
total is rounded up to the nearest quarter, nickel, or the like.
The predetermined amount may be calculated as a percentage of the
total amount of the transaction. The predetermined amount may be a
fixed amount. The predetermined amount may be calculated to be
below a certain limit, i.e. the predetermined amount does not
exceed a specific value. The predetermined amount may be a portion
of the difference between the total amount and the tendered amount,
i.e. a portion of the change. Otherwise, the predetermined amount
may be the entire difference between the total amount and the
tendered amount.
[0014] The method may further include the step of assigning a
unique identifier to the transacting party upon allocation of the
predetermined amount to the collecting party which unique
identifier is able to uniquely identify the transacting party for
the purposes of a game of chance, i.e. a lottery number. The unique
identifier may be assigned to the transacting party irrespective of
the predetermined amount, i.e. the transacting party may receive
the unique identifier regardless of the amount that he donates. It
is to be appreciated that the unique identifier is assigned to the
transacting party merely through the participation of the
transacting party in the transaction. Accordingly, the transacting
party does not purchase the unique identifier. The step of
assigning unique identifiers to transacting parties may form part
of a reward scheme wherein a transacting party has a chance to win
a prize merely by donating small change during a transaction.
[0015] The method may include the step of providing the transacting
party with a printout of the transaction, i.e. a receipt. The
printout may show the details of the transaction which includes the
predetermined amount and the total amount of the transaction.
Accordingly, the printout may include the unique identifier capable
of uniquely identifying the transacting party for the purposes of a
game of chance.
[0016] According to a second aspect of the invention there is
provided a system for automatically harvesting a monetary donation
during a financial transaction, according to the method as
described above, which system includes
[0017] at least one conventional electronic transaction register
adapted to electronically register tender received from a
transacting party which tender is offered as payment for goods
and/or services, to automatically and electronically determine
whether or not the tendered amount exceeds the total amount
required for the purchase of the goods and/or services, and to
automatically and without approval from the transacting party
increase the total amount of the transaction with a predetermined
amount if the tendered amount exceeds the total amount required so
that the predetermined amount is equal or less than the difference
between the total amount and the tendered amount; and
[0018] a central processor arranged in electronic communication
with the at least one register which processor is configured to
automatically and electronically allocate the predetermined amount
by means of a conventional electronic network to a collecting party
if the transacting party does not disagree to the automatic
increase of the total amount with the predetermined amount.
[0019] The register may be adapted to display the increased total
amount and the predetermined amount to the transacting party.
[0020] The register may be adapted to automatically calculate the
predetermined amount. The register may calculate the predetermined
amount so that the addition thereof to the total amount results in
a rounded figure, e.g. the total amount is rounded up to the
nearest dollar, i.e. where the total amount is $43.45, the
predetermined amount will be $0.55 so that the increased total is
$44.00. The register may calculate the predetermined amount so that
the total amount is rounded up to the nearest quarter, nickel, or
the like. The register may calculate the predetermined amount as a
percentage of the total amount of the transaction. The register may
calculate the predetermined amount to be below a certain limit,
i.e. the predetermined amount does not exceed a specific value. The
register may calculate the predetermined amount to be a portion of
the difference between the total amount and the tendered amount,
i.e. a portion of the change. Otherwise, the register may calculate
the predetermined amount to be the entire difference between the
total amount and the tendered amount.
[0021] The register may be further adapted to assign a unique
identifier to the transacting party upon allocation of the
predetermined amount to the collecting party which unique
identifier is able to uniquely identify the transacting party for
the purposes of a game of chance, i.e. a lottery number. The
register may assign the unique identifier to the transacting party
irrespective of the predetermined amount, i.e. the transacting
party may receive the unique identifier regardless of the amount
that he donates. It is to be appreciated that the unique identifier
is assigned to the transacting party merely through the
participation of the transacting party in the transaction.
Accordingly, the transacting party does not purchase the unique
identifier. The register may assign unique identifiers to
transacting parties so as to form part of a reward scheme wherein a
transacting party has a chance to win a prize merely by donating
small change during a transaction.
[0022] The register may be adapted to provide the transacting party
with a printout of the transaction, i.e. a receipt. The printout
may show the details of the transaction which includes the
predetermined amount and the total amount of the transaction.
Accordingly, the printout may include the unique identifier capable
of uniquely identifying the transacting party for the purposes of a
game of chance.
[0023] It is to be appreciated that the conventional register is
typically adapted to perform the above functions by configuring a
suitable processing means of the register accordingly.
[0024] The central processor may include a conventional financial
computer server. Accordingly, the central processor may include an
electronic storage means for storing information associated with a
financial transaction.
[0025] According to a third aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of automatically harvesting a monetary donation
after the conclusion of an electronic transaction which method
includes the following steps, in any order
[0026] pre-emptively obtaining permission from a transacting party
which permission authorizes a financial institution to harvest a
donation from an electronic account of a transacting party;
[0027] harvesting a donation from the electronic account of the
transacting party for which account permission has been granted by
automatically increasing the total amount of an electronic
transaction with a predetermined amount when the financial
institution administers the conventional electronic transfer of the
transaction; and
[0028] electronically allocating the predetermined amount to a
collecting party upon the conventional electronic transfer of the
total amount to an electronic account of a third party.
[0029] It is to be appreciated that an electronic transaction
includes any form of transaction where monetary tender is
electronically transferred between parties, such as a purchase and
sale transaction, a payment of debt, a fund transfer, a debit order
transaction, a credit transaction, authorizing of cheque payments,
and/or the like.
[0030] The method may include, prior to the step of harvesting a
donation, the step of automatically calculating the predetermined
amount. The predetermined amount may be calculated so that the
addition thereof to the total amount results in a rounded figure.
The predetermined amount may be calculated so that the total amount
of the transaction is rounded up to the nearest quarter, nickel, or
the like. The predetermined amount may be calculated as a
percentage of the total amount of the transaction. The
predetermined amount may be a fixed amount. The predetermined
amount may be calculated to be below a certain limit, i.e. the
predetermined amount does not exceed a specific value.
[0031] The method may further include the step of assigning a
unique identifier to the transacting party upon allocation of the
predetermined amount to the collecting party which unique
identifier is able to uniquely identify the transacting party for
the purposes of a game of chance, i.e. a lottery number. The unique
identifier may be assigned to the transacting party irrespective of
the predetermined amount, i.e. the transacting party may be
assigned the unique identifier regardless of the amount that he
donates. It is to be appreciated that the unique identifier is
assigned to the transacting party merely through the participation
of the transacting party in the transaction. Accordingly, the
transacting party does not purchase the unique identifier. The step
of assigning unique identifiers to transacting parties may form
part of a reward scheme wherein a transacting party has a chance to
win a prize merely by automatically making a donation after an
electronic transaction.
[0032] The method may include the step of providing the transacting
party with a printout of the transaction, i.e. a printed statement.
The printout may show the details of the electronic transaction
which includes the predetermined amount and the total amount of the
transaction. Accordingly, the printout may include the unique
identifier capable of uniquely identifying the transacting party
for the purposes of a game of chance.
[0033] According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is
provided a system for automatically harvesting a monetary donation
after the conclusion of an electronic transaction, according to the
method described above, which system includes
[0034] authorizing means configured to enable a transacting party
to grant permission to a financial institute so that the financial
institute can harvest a donation from an account of the transacting
party; and
[0035] a conventional electronic financial server adapted to
harvest a donation from the electronic account of the transacting
party for which account permission has been granted by
automatically increasing the total amount of an electronic
transaction with a predetermined amount when the financial
institution administers the conventional electronic transfer of the
transaction, and to electronically allocate the predetermined
amount to a collecting party upon conventional electronic transfer
of the total amount to an electronic account of a third party.
[0036] The authorizing means may include receiving permission by
means of an electronic network, e.g. the internet, or the like.
Otherwise, the authorizing means may include an agreement concluded
between the transacting party and the financial institute, e.g. a
contract. Accordingly, the authorizing means may include an
electronic indication on the electronic account of the transacting
party which indication indicates that the transacting party has
authorized the harvesting of donations from that particular
account.
[0037] The conventional electronic financial server may be adapted
to calculate the predetermined amount. The server may calculate the
predetermined amount so that the addition thereof to the total
amount results in a rounded figure. The server may calculate the
predetermined amount so that the total amount of the transaction is
rounded up to the nearest quarter, nickel, or the like. The server
may calculate the predetermined amount as a percentage of the total
amount of the transaction. The predetermined amount may be a fixed
amount. The server may calculate the predetermined amount to be
below a certain limit, i.e. the predetermined amount does not
exceed a specific value.
[0038] The server may be adapted to assign a unique identifier to
the transacting party upon allocation of the predetermined amount
to the collecting party which unique identifier is able to uniquely
identify the transacting party for the purposes of a game of
chance, i.e. a lottery number. The server may assign the unique
identifier to the transacting party irrespective of the
predetermined amount, i.e. the transacting party may be assigned
the unique identifier regardless of the amount that he donates. It
is to be appreciated that the unique identifier is assigned to the
transacting party merely through the participation of the
transacting party in the transaction. Accordingly, the transacting
party does not purchase the unique identifier. The step of
assigning unique identifiers to transacting parties may form part
of a reward scheme wherein a transacting party has a chance to win
a prize merely by automatically making a donation after an
electronic transaction.
[0039] The server may include a printing means for providing the
transacting party with a conventional printout of the transaction,
i.e. a printed statement. The printout may show the details of the
electronic transaction which includes the predetermined amount and
the total amount of the transaction. Accordingly, the printout may
include the unique identifier capable of uniquely identifying the
transacting party for the purposes of a game of chance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein
[0041] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram for a method of automatically
harvesting a monetary donation during a financial transaction, in
accordance with the invention;
[0042] FIG. 2 shows, in schematic view, a system for automatically
harvesting a monetary donation during a financial transaction, in
accordance with the invention;
[0043] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram for a method of automatically
harvesting a monetary donation after the conclusion of an
electronic transaction, in accordance with the invention; and
[0044] FIG. 4 shows, in schematic view, a system for automatically
harvesting a monetary donation after the conclusion of an
electronic transaction, in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0045] With reference to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 shows a
flow diagram of a method 10 of automatically harvesting a monetary
donation during a financial transaction. The transaction is
generally a cash transaction. The method 10 includes the steps of
electronically registering 12 tender received from a transacting
party which tender is offered as payment for goods and/or services.
The method 10 then includes the step of automatically and
electronically determining 14 whether or not the tendered amount
exceeds the total amount 16 required for the purchase of the goods
and/or services. If the tendered amount exceeds the total amount
16, then the method 10 includes the step of automatically and
without approval from the transacting party increasing 20 the total
amount 16 of the transaction with a predetermined amount so that
the predetermined amount is equal or less than the difference
between the total amount 16 and the tendered amount.
[0046] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, should the tendered
amount not exceed the total amount 16 of the transaction, then the
method merely registers the tendered amount as a conventional
transaction 18.
[0047] The method 10, if the tendered amount exceeds the total
amount 16 of the transaction, then includes the step of
automatically and electronically allocating 22 the predetermined
amount to a collecting party 24 and the total amount as a
conventional transaction 18 if the transacting party does not
disagree to the automatic increase of the total amount 16 with the
predetermined amount. The transacting party can disagree before the
step of allocating 22, whereupon the change of the transaction is
returned as in a conventional transaction 18.
[0048] It is to be appreciated that the predetermined amount does
not exceed the difference between the total amount and the tendered
amount so that the transacting party is not required to tender
additional cash than that already tendered. This facilitates the
exploitation of the perceived redundancy of change resulting from a
cash transaction.
[0049] In other embodiments (not shown), the method 10 includes,
after the step of increasing 20 the total amount, the step of
displaying the increased total amount and the predetermined amount
to the transacting party. It is to be appreciated that the method
10 will generally be utilized in combination with a marketing
stratagem in which potential transacting parties are informed that
the predetermined amount is automatically added to the total amount
of any purchase. In these circumstances the donation portion may
not be displayed to the transacting party.
[0050] The method 10 generally includes the step of automatically
calculating the predetermined amount after determining 14 whether
or not the tendered amount exceeds the total amount 16. The
predetermined amount may be calculated so that the addition thereof
to the total amount results in a rounded figure, e.g. the total
amount is rounded up to the nearest dollar, i.e. where the total is
$43.45, the predetermined amount will be $0.55 so that the
rounded-up amount is $44.00.
[0051] Otherwise, the predetermined amount may be calculated so
that the total amount is rounded up to the nearest quarter, nickel,
or the like. This lets the transacting party tender the rounded-up
amount more easily as he will then not have small change cluttering
his wallet. This exploits the perceived redundancy of small change
produced by cash transactions. Similarly, in other embodiments, the
predetermined amount may be calculated as a percentage of the total
amount of the transaction. In a further embodiment the
predetermined amount may be a fixed amount.
[0052] The predetermined amount is typically calculated to be below
a certain limit, i.e. the predetermined amount does not exceed a
specific value, otherwise where large transactions are concluded
the predetermined amount may result in a large amount which the
transacting party may disagree to donate. Accordingly, in certain
situations the predetermined amount will be a portion of the
difference between the total amount and the tendered amount, i.e. a
portion of the change. Otherwise, the predetermined amount may be
the entire difference between the total amount and the tendered
amount, especially where small transactions are concluded which
results in little change to the transacting party.
[0053] Furthermore, in other embodiments (not shown), the method 10
may further include the step of assigning a unique identifier to
the transacting party upon allocation 22 of the predetermined
amount to the collecting party 24 which unique identifier is able
to uniquely identify the transacting party for the purposes of a
game of chance, i.e. a lottery number. It is to be appreciated that
the unique identifier is assigned to the transacting party
irrespective of the predetermined amount, i.e. the transacting
party receives the unique identifier regardless of the amount that
he donates. The unique identifier is thus assigned to the
transacting party merely through the participation of the
transacting party in the transaction. Accordingly, the transacting
party does not purchase the unique identifier. The step of
assigning unique identifiers to transacting parties may form part
of a reward scheme wherein a transacting party has a chance to win
a prize merely by donating small change during a transaction.
[0054] In a yet further embodiment of the invention (not shown),
the method 10 may include the step of providing the transacting
party with a printout of the transaction, i.e. a receipt. The
printout generally shows the details of the transaction which
includes the predetermined amount and the total amount of the
transaction. Similarly, the printout may, where applicable, include
the unique identifier capable of uniquely identifying the
transacting party for the purposes of a game of chance.
[0055] With reference to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 2 shows a
system 30 for automatically harvesting a monetary donation during a
financial transaction, according to the method 10 as described
above.
[0056] The system 30 includes at least one conventional electronic
transaction register 32 adapted to electronically register tender
received by the transacting party which tender is offered as
payment for goods and/or services. The register 32 is further
adapted to automatically and electronically determine whether or
not the tendered amount exceeds the total amount required for the
purchase of the goods and/or services. The register 32 then to
automatically and without approval from the transacting party
increases the total amount of the transaction with a predetermined
amount if the tendered amount exceeds the total required amount so
that the predetermined amount is equal or less than the difference
between the total amount and the tendered amount.
[0057] The system 30 also includes a central processor 34 arranged
in electronic communication with the at least one register 32 which
processor 34 is configured to automatically and electronically
allocate the predetermined amount by means of a conventional
electronic network 36 to a collecting party 38 if the transacting
party does not disagree to the automatic increase of the total
amount with the predetermined amount.
[0058] It is to be appreciated that the system 30 automatically
adds a donation in the form of the predetermined amount to the due
total of a transacting party. The Inventor has noticed that this is
a more efficient way of collecting donations from people making
purchases, as it is not generally human nature to perform a
positive and conscious act to withhold a donation. This is
especially true where the predetermined amount is not very
significant, i.e. small change perceived as redundant. A
transacting party is less likely to donate this small change than
to merely agree to tender an amount which already includes the
donation.
[0059] The register 32 is generally adapted to display the
increased total amount and the predetermined amount to the
transacting party.
[0060] The register 32 is adapted to automatically calculate the
predetermined amount. It is to be appreciated that the
predetermined amount may be calculated in different ways depending
on the transaction. Accordingly, the register 32 may calculate the
predetermined amount so that the addition thereof to the total
amount results in a rounded figure, e.g. the increased monetary
value is rounded up to the nearest dollar, i.e. where the total
amount is $43.45, the predetermined amount will be $0.55 so that
the increased total is $44.00. Otherwise, the register 32 may
calculate the predetermined amount so that the total amount is
rounded up to the nearest quarter, nickel, or the like. The
register 32 may calculate the predetermined amount as a percentage
of the total amount of the transaction. The register 32 may
calculate the predetermined amount to be below a certain limit,
i.e. the predetermined amount does not exceed a specific value. The
register 32 may calculate the predetermined amount to be a portion
of the difference between the total amount and the tendered amount,
i.e. a portion of the change. Otherwise, the register 32 may
calculate the predetermined amount to be the entire difference
between the total amount and the tendered amount.
[0061] In further embodiments (not shown), the register 32 may be
further adapted to assign a unique identifier to the transacting
party upon allocation of the predetermined amount to the collecting
party which unique identifier is able to uniquely identify the
transacting party for the purposes of a game of chance, i.e. a
lottery number. The register 32 will typically assign the unique
identifier to the transacting party irrespective of the
predetermined amount, i.e. the transacting party receives the
unique identifier regardless of the amount that he donates. It is
to be appreciated that the unique identifier is assigned to the
transacting party merely through the participation of the
transacting party in the transaction. Accordingly, the transacting
party does not purchase the unique identifier. The register 32
generally assigns unique identifiers to transacting parties so as
to form part of a reward scheme wherein a transacting party has a
chance to win a prize merely by donating small change during a
transaction.
[0062] The register 32 is typically adapted to provide the
transacting party with a printout of the transaction, i.e. a
receipt. The printout will show the details of the transaction
which includes the predetermined amount and the total amount of the
transaction. Accordingly, the printout may also include the unique
identifier capable of uniquely identifying the transacting party
for the purposes of a game of chance.
[0063] It is to be appreciated that the conventional register 32 is
typically adapted to perform the above functions by configuring a
suitable processing means of the register 32 accordingly, e.g.
running a certain set of instructions, or the like.
[0064] The central processor 34 is a conventional financial
computer server used in managing and regulating financial
transactions. Accordingly, the central processor 34 includes an
electronic storage means (not shown) for storing information
associated with a financial transaction.
[0065] It is to be appreciated that the method 10 and system 30
described in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, finds application where
the transaction is concluded by cash. The following method and
system finds application on the banking side of a transaction to
enable the harvesting of donations.
[0066] With reference to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 3 shows a
method 40 of automatically harvesting a monetary donation after the
conclusion of an electronic transaction. The method 40 includes the
steps of preemptively obtaining 42 permission from a transacting
party which permission authorizes a financial institution to
harvest a donation from an electronic account 44 of the transacting
party. The method 40 then includes the step of harvesting a
donation from the electronic account of the transacting party for
which account permission has been granted by automatically
increasing 48 the total amount of an electronic transaction 46 with
a predetermined amount when the financial institution administers
the conventional electronic transfer of the transaction 46. The
method 40 then performs the step of electronically allocating 50
the predetermined amount to a collecting party 52 upon the
conventional electronic transfer of the total amount to an
electronic account of a third party 54.
[0067] FIG. 3 shows an example of a single account 44 of the
transacting party being harvested when transactions 46 are made.
FIG. 3 shows that the harvesting of donations is done for each
separate transaction 46.
[0068] The method 40 includes the step of automatically calculating
(not shown) the predetermined amount. The predetermined amount may
be calculated so that the addition thereof to the total amount
results in a rounded figure. The predetermined amount may be
calculated so that the total amount of the transaction is rounded
up to the nearest quarter, nickel, or the like. The predetermined
amount may be calculated as a percentage of the total amount of the
transaction. The predetermined amount may be a fixed amount. The
predetermined amount may be calculated to be below a certain limit,
i.e. the predetermined amount does not exceed a specific value.
[0069] The method 40 further includes the step of assigning (not
shown) a unique identifier to the transacting party upon allocation
of the predetermined amount to the collecting party which unique
identifier is able to uniquely identify the transacting party for
the purposes of a game of chance, i.e. a lottery number. The unique
identifier is generally assigned to the transacting party
irrespective of the predetermined amount, i.e. the transacting
party is assigned the unique identifier regardless of the amount
that he donates. It is to be appreciated that the unique identifier
is assigned to the transacting party merely through the
participation of the transacting party in the transaction.
Accordingly, the transacting party does not purchase the unique
identifier. The step of assigning unique identifiers to transacting
parties may form part of a reward scheme wherein a transacting
party has a chance to win a prize merely by automatically making a
donation after an electronic transaction.
[0070] The method 40 also includes the step of providing (not
shown) the transacting party with a printout of the transaction,
i.e. a printed statement. The printout typically shows the details
of the electronic transaction which includes the predetermined
amount and the total amount of the transaction. Accordingly, the
printout may include the unique identifier capable of uniquely
identifying the transacting party for the purposes of a game of
chance.
[0071] With reference to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 4 shows a
system 60 for automatically harvesting a monetary donation after
the conclusion of an electronic transaction, according to the
method 40 described above.
[0072] The system 60 includes authorizing means 62 configured to
enable a transacting party to grant permission to a financial
institute so that the financial institute can harvest a donation
from an account 68 of the transacting party. The system 60 further
includes a conventional electronic financial server 64 adapted to
harvest a donation from an electronic account 68 of the transacting
party, for which account 68 permission has been granted, by
automatically increasing the total amount of an electronic
transaction with a predetermined amount when the financial
institution administers the conventional electronic transfer of the
transaction. The server 64 is further adapted to electronically
allocate the predetermined amount to a collecting party 74 upon
conventional electronic transfer of the total amount to an
electronic account 72 of a third party.
[0073] It is to be appreciated that the collecting party 74 is
generally a further electronic account. The account 72 of the third
party is the conventional account of a third party for whom the
total amount of the transaction is intended, e.g. an account of a
shop which sells goods, or the like.
[0074] The authorizing means 62 may include receiving permission by
means of an electronic network, e.g. the internet, or the like.
Otherwise, the authorizing means 62 may include an agreement
concluded between the transacting party and the financial
institute, e.g. a contract. Accordingly, the authorizing means 62
may include an electronic indication on the electronic account 68
of the transacting party which indication indicates that the
transacting party has authorized the harvesting of donations from
that particular account 68.
[0075] The conventional electronic financial server 64 is adapted
to calculate the predetermined amount. The server 64 may calculate
the predetermined amount so that the addition thereof to the total
amount results in a rounded figure. The server 64 may calculate the
predetermined amount so that the total amount of the transaction is
rounded up to the nearest quarter, nickel, or the like. The server
64 may calculate the predetermined amount as a percentage of the
total amount of the transaction. The predetermined amount may be a
fixed amount. The server 64 may calculate the predetermined amount
to be below a certain limit, i.e. the predetermined amount does not
exceed a specific value.
[0076] The server 64 may be adapted to assign a unique identifier
to the transacting party upon allocation of the predetermined
amount to the collecting party which unique identifier is able to
uniquely identify the transacting party for the purposes of a game
of chance, i.e. a lottery number. The server 64 may assign the
unique identifier to the transacting party irrespective of the
predetermined amount, i.e. the transacting party may be assigned
the unique identifier regardless of the amount that he donates. It
is to be appreciated that the unique identifier is assigned to the
transacting party merely through the participation of the
transacting party in the transaction. Accordingly, the transacting
party does not purchase the unique identifier. The step of
assigning unique identifiers to transacting parties may form part
of a reward scheme wherein a transacting party has a chance to win
a prize merely by automatically making a donation after an
electronic transaction.
[0077] The server 64 includes a printing means 76 for providing the
transacting party with a conventional printout of the transaction,
i.e. a printed statement. The printout may show the details of the
electronic transaction which includes the predetermined amount and
the total amount of the transaction. Accordingly, the printout may
include the unique identifier capable of uniquely identifying the
transacting party for the purposes of a game of chance.
[0078] It shall be understood that the example is provided for
illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled
in the art with understanding the invention and is not meant to be
construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the
invention.
[0079] The Inventor regards it as an advantage that the invention
enables a more efficient method of harvesting donations during
financial transactions by requiring a transacting party to perform
a positive act to abstain from making a donation, as opposed to
current systems which require a transacting party to perform a
positive act to make a donation. Accordingly, the Inventor regards
it as an advantage that the invention, by not requiring a
transacting party to make a decision of donating, offers a more
efficient and simple solution than existing donation harvesting
systems. These advantages further ensure that the current invention
facilitates more efficient harvesting of donations during financial
transactions.
[0080] The Inventor regards it as a further advantage that the
invention makes use of existing components generally in use during
financial transactions alleviating the need for additional and
expensive equipment.
* * * * *